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Board approves CalSHAPE HVAC grant contracting steps and other construction procurements
Summary
Trustees authorized procurement methods for a $5.9 million CalSHAPE HVAC grant, approved design‑build/lease‑leaseback and piggyback resolutions, and received updates on library modernization, Green Schoolyards grants and portable projects as the district plans major capital work.
The Santa Paula Unified School District board on Jan. 22 approved a suite of procurement and project steps aimed at moving multiple capital projects forward, including an HVAC ventilation upgrade funded through a CalSHAPE grant and preparations for larger modernization projects at Isbell Middle School and Santa Paula High School.
Facilities director Doug Henning told trustees the district will use design‑build and lease‑leaseback contracting methods for the CalSHAPE ventilation upgrade and for upcoming large projects. "This procurement allows us to bring on a firm that will do engineering, procurement and construction," Henning said, explaining the benefits of early contractor involvement and preconstruction services to coordinate designs and control costs.
The board approved a resolution to issue requests for proposals and authorized staff to pursue design‑build and lease‑leaseback methods. Henning noted those approaches are not the same as lowest‑bid contracts: they allow evaluation of qualifications, capacity and local hiring commitments in addition to price, and the district can encourage contractors to engage local subcontractors.
Trustees also heard a facilities update that included the Santa Paula High School library modernization (interior drywall, roofing repairs completed over winter break), a Webster kitchen modernization, Green Schoolyards grant submissions for three campuses and a draft environmental impact report for the Isbell project that is open for public comment.
Board members discussed funding realities: Henning said available capital pots are limited and some projects may require phasing or rescoping (for example, separating fencing from lighting on a baseball field to reduce cost). The board approved a motion allowing the district to use cooperative ("piggyback") purchasing where appropriate to capture volume discounts.
In other facilities business the board approved change orders for the library modernization, awarded a three‑year ESET antivirus contract for district devices, and authorized furniture purchases for classroom resizing. Trustees discussed pursuing a project labor agreement option and directed staff to continue outreach to labor and local contractors to maximize local hiring on construction projects.
Board members approved these procurement resolutions and directed staff to return with contracts and additional cost estimates for specific projects as DSA approvals and final bids become available.
